LAUGH IT UP – Comedian and radio personality Andrew Grose and several other performers are pitching in tonight to help save the imperiled space camp trip.

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The community effort to save the space camp trip for a group of St. Albert students continues unabated, with several events coming up soon to raise funds.

The trip, organized for local Grade 5 and 6 students, aims to take them to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec to visit facilities that mimic actual astronaut training. The plan was thrown into chaos when the company handling the trip went out of business with no warning a few weeks ago. About $250,000 of local money is missing as a result.

Volunteers, particularly parents, stepped up immediately and began raising funds, but parents aren't the only ones who want to help the kids keep their trip.

A number of community-minded individuals have stepped up to help out, including 630 CHED radio personality Andrew Grose. Grose, also a popular nationally recognized comedian, has volunteered his services along with a number of other skilled performers to put on a benefit show on the night of Saturday, April 12, at the Kinsmen clubhouse in the Riel athletic park with the co-operation of the Kinsmen Club and the St. Albert Theatre Troupe.

Grose is known as a force in Canadian comedy, appearing at events like the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. He's also known as one half of CHED's Tencer and Grose show. There are two separate shows, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., and tickets are $20 each. Proceeds from the evening go towards the Save Our Space Camp campaign. Tickets are available by calling 780-222-0102.

Another strongly supported community fundraiser to help the kids is the silent auction and pasta buffet at O'Maille's Irish Pub on Saturday, April 19 starting at 7 p.m.

Dozens of local individuals, organizations and businesses have already stepped up to the plate and donated for the silent auction. Items ranging from modest to large have been donated by organizations such as Trucks Plus Auto, Gelous Nails, It's My Thing Designs, Boston Pizza, Canadian Tire, The Home Depot and many more. The selection of items will be impressive.

The catered supper is courtesy of Sorrentino's, and only 200 tickets will be printed for this event, so those interested in attending should not delay.

Also coming up this weekend are two fundraising barbecues from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the south Save-On Foods and the Sobey's grocery stores and a bottle drive. To donate to the bottle drive, use the contacts given at www.saveourspacecamp.com. Volunteers will also have a booth at the Enjoy Centre this weekend selling tickets to both the comedy show and silent auction.

Organizers have also developed a corporate sponsor program for this campaign. Sponsorship can begin with as little as $500. According to Save Our Space Camp, it costs $2,000 to send one student on the trip. As well, factors like flight and accommodation require the entire group of 53 students for the trip, which has a total cost of about $100,000.

Those interested in donating can contact volunteer Tim Der by cellphone at 780-932-1451, or check out the website, wwwsaveourspacecamp.com.

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